Battery.



No. 855,880 7 PATENTBD JUNE 4,1907. B. B DOWNS.

BATTERY;

APPLICATION FILED APB. 2,1906.

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BERTRAM B. DOWNS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

BATTERY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM B. Dowxs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Battery, of which the following, is a specification. i

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in dry batteries and has for its object as a new article of manufacture two or more cells arranged to constitute a battery,

' each cell being hermetically sealed from air and moisture and immovably arranged to constitute a single unit.

Batteries of this kind can be used to advantage for a number of purposes, such as-for the ignition of biles and elsewhere and for lighting gas lamps and ringing bells, with greater efficiency than heretofore and without shortcircuiting between the cells.

' 1s a plan view, showing a portion of thecover Among other objects are to protect the cells from heat and cold and to provide switching apparatus for throwing'in or cutting out part or all of said cells. l'leretofore, where any attempt has been "made to provide a battery of this nature the cells have not been hermetically sealed nor has any switchmg apparatus been used. n the accompanying drawings forming art of this s ecification Fi ure 1 is a se'c-" P b tional side elevation of my invention; Fig. 2

3 is a'section of Fig. 1, taken on t e line of the circuit connections and switching apparatus, a d Fig. 5 is a sectional View of an which may be of any alternate'construction.

Inthe drawings A represents an inclosure, su table form, shape I and size desired. lhis inclosu-re is substantially a. square box, although I have constructed it lnthe form of a pail having a bail, which ismore convenient for some purposes.

The inclosure shown is provided with a cover or lid" 2, which is hinged'or otherwise at tached to the body thereof. In this inclosure are placed cells 3 of a battery, which may Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 2, 1906. Serial No. 309.348.

gasolene engines, on automo-.

.erably levelwith the" Patented June 4, 1907.

switch is thrown over the contacts either one or theother of said series of cells is included in the main circuit. The connections may be soldered to prevent them from loosening. The switch 1) is mounted on the switchboard E, which is carried by the frame above the cells in the inclosure. Each. cell is of ordinary type, except that it does not include the usual paper jacket which is invariably used on dry cells.

A coating of melted wax or any suitable lnsulating sealing compound or material is poured upon the floor of the inelosure to a depth of a half inch (more or less), and after hardenin thecells are laced on the insulating material and electrically connected, as desired, with the switchboard, care being taken that the cells are spaced apart and from the walls of the inclosure, Melted wax or other sealing compound, which melts at a lower temperature than that of the insulat ing material, on the floor is then poured into the inclosure until the cells and their connecting wires are entirely submerged, the inolosure being filled with sealing compound prefswitchboard. The battery is then allowed to stand until said compound hardens. By this means the cells are held firmly in place and sealed from the air and moisture, and all danger of shortcircuiting or depreciating in elliciency by contact with the air or obviated.

In the alternate construction the cells are submerged in a single sealing compound, which is allowed to solidify while the cells are in suspended position. The cells may be suspended during this operation by any suitable means desired. 1 have employed a series of l1o -)ks,-which are released when the insulating compound is in a semi-hardened condition.

openings left by the hooks to complete thesealing process,

7 Where i have used the term sealing compound I mean it to include insulating materials, such as wax, asphaltum and mixtures by heat and cold is A melted compound may be,

poured into the thereof or any other suitable insulating materials which melt at comparatively low temperatures.

Having described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, 1s:

A new article of manufacture, comprising a battery of dry cells suitablyconnected and havingtheir outerelectrodes separated from Q srsmsso l 1 h each other,e suitableinclosure common to all 'In testimony v vvh'ereof I have signed my of said cells, a layer of solid insulating com-. name to this specification in the presence of 7 pound in said inelosure on which said cells two subscribing witnesses.

rest, and a solid insulating cmhpouncladapt- BEBTRAM B. DOWNS. ed to melt at a lower temperature than said Witnesses: Y layer ancleovering said cells and their, con- ELs'IE M. BOESEL,

nections. F. G. BRADBURY. 

